Driving I-20 at 2 am

I am exhausted. Period. I remember being tired with Braden, but this is an all new tired. It is not from just lack of sleep at night, but Parker is also not on a nap schedule during the day. I don't really see myself as the type of drill sergeant parent who lives by her kid's schedule. However, from my experience with Braden schedules create routine and routine creates a feeling of stability and a feeling of stability creates a happy baby and an even happier mommy!

Since I am still nursing Parker I hadn't really pushed a nap schedule and at night I just feed him whenever he gets restless since he is sleeping in a co sleeper by our bed. And it was working...until the past few weeks when he stopped sleeping 4-5 hours at a stretch and began getting up every 2-3 hours and waking up and not falling back to sleep. Plus he won't nap in his co sleeper or crib during the day so unless he falls asleep in his car seat and sleeps when I get home I have to carry him around and I can't get anything accomplished.

This week has been the worst with sleep. Tuesday night I fed Parker at 1:15 and I had to get up and change him since he wet through his diaper. I got him back down at 1:45 and Braden woke up throwing up at 2 so Brad and I didn't get into bed until 5:30 the next morning. Wednesday night Parker slept in the co sleeper until 1:30 then started crying every time I tried to lay him back down so I ended up putting him in bed with me which meant I got NO sleep. This takes us to Thursday night. Parker wakes up at 1 I nurse him hoping he falls back asleep- he does not. Brad rocks him and gets him to sleep- until he lays him down. This goes on until 2 am and I decide I will put him the car and drive him around to try to get him in a deep sleep (I am not a fan of this idea- we did it with Braden when he was a week old and have not again, however I didn't see a lot of other options at 2am). That takes me to driving up and down I 20 at 2am trying to get him asleep, which finally happened after 30 minutes until I got home and he woke up!

With that said driving I 20 at 2 am has gotten me to the place where my mind is made up that it is time for Parker to start sleeping through the WHOLE night in his OWN crib in his OWN room. The only reason this happened with Braden was because Brad said it was time to get him out of our bed when he was 5 months old. So with Braden I did a lot of research on different sleep strategies and we decided on the Ferber method...let them cry 5 minutes, then soothe, but don't pick up, cry 10 mins. soothe but don't pick up and so on. Well, I had the hardest time listening to Braden cry and if it weren't for Brad I would have gone into get him. But he cried through the first 5 minutes, then I soothed him and he stopped crying on the 9th minute of the next cycle and has been sleeping through the night ever since.

So my mind is made up. We WILL try it starting Wed. night (I don't have to go back to work Thursday) and I WILL be strong! But here are my hurdles.

• I am still nursing Parker, but I think that he should be able to last through the night without eating (I think it is more for comfort during the night at this point anyway)



• I am still swaddling him at night, which I won't do for safety reasons when he is in his own crib in his own room for safety reasons since he can now roll over.

So any and all mothers with any advice or ideas, I am interested in listening.!!!!

Braden's Last Day of School

Braden had his last day of school last Thursday. This year Braden was really excited about going to school each day and playing with his friends. He loved show and tell, centers, and computer, sometimes liked art and was not a fan of music and movement! He really loved his teachers Ms. Glenda and Ms. Julie! I am hoping thar next year will be exciting for Braden as well.

Parker 4 Months

This is a little late, but 2 weeks ago Parker had his 4 month check up complete with the ever dreaded immunizations. Parker is now 24.5 inches long and 13 lbs 14 oz. Parker sis really great and was cooing and giggling until the shots! This was my worst experience with immunizations. We expected Park to be cranky and sleepy, instead he was lethargic for 24 hours- staring off into space if he wasn't sleeping. We ended up taking him to the ER and after talking to Dr. Miller we are going to spread all of his immunizations out to see if we can figure out if it was one immunization in particular or a combination of them all. Please pray that we do not see a side effect like this again and that there will not be any long term effects that occur from any of his immunizations.

Here are all of the new things that Parker has been up to:

• He is rolling over from his belly to his back!



• He has started eating rice cereal and some veggies (sweet peas, squash and sweet potato)



• He giggles and coos all the time



• He loves watching Braden



• Parker had his first taste of bubble gum antibiotics thanks to a nasty double ear infection



• We are still trying to get a nap schedule figured out (any tips/ideas?)



• His favorite toy is his exersaucer

Hmmmmm...

Baseball

OR

Football?

Easter Parade

Each year Braden's preschool has an Easter Parade and each of the classes wears some sort of hat or mask and walk in a parade and then meets up with their parents in the fellowship hall for cookies. Last year Braden refused to wear his mask and also refused to walk in the parade so I was a little nervous when I went to see him in the parade this year. However, he was such a big boy! He wore an Easter Bunny mask even though the class was wearing jungle masks (I like that he has his own ideas about things!) and he was walking with his class in the line. As soon as he spotted me he started saying , "Hey Mommy. I'm walking in the parade Mommy." It was so sweet and then we enjoyed cookies together after the parade. Braden was so excited about being a part of the parade this year and it made feel so happy to see him having a great time with his class.

Braden and Parker's Dedication

Several weeks ago our church had a Sunday designated for baby and toddler dedications. It was a really special time for Brad and me to be able to dedicate both of our boys to God with our family watching. Our prayer is that we will be parents who will lovingly devote our lives to our children teaching them about God's unconditional love and grace.

Boy, Oh BoyS!

We have LOTS of boys in our family....in fact we don't have any girls at the moment. Easter with all boys is quite an experience!

Tonight while I was editing some Easter pictures I couldn't help but giggle at the expressions on their faces! Such characters!

Promise to Update Soon!

Well, it has been another March of sickness. This year all v of had the flu for over a week and now I have a sinus infection and ear infection. I have so much to update about- just need to get to feeling better.
Here is what you can look forward to:
- Parker is growing! Can't wait to tell you all about it
-Baby dedication
-I am going to attempt to potty train Braden next week (lots of prayers please!)
- My birthday

Happy Birthday Dr.Seuss!

Cat in the Hat and Thing 1

A Fish Named Ruby

Yesterday Braden and I went to the store to pick out a birthday gift for his friend Micah's 3rd birthday. Braden wanted to get Micah a fish and the little fellow suckered me in to buying one for him too! Braden picked out a blue fish for Micah and he chose a red fish for himself. When we got in the car I asked him what he wanted to name his fish and he said "Darby, you know like on Nemo." I thought it was funny since the fish on Nemo is named Dori! I told him that when I was in college I had a red fish named Ruby and thn he wanted to change his fish to Ruby. It is really funny because he says Ruvy!

Snow 2010

Well it happened again!!! We had another big snow in little ol' Covington, Ga! They cancelled school on Friday in anticipation of the snow, but it didn't actually start snowing until 2:00 Friday afternoon. I had pulled all of the blinds up so Braden could see it and he was running around the house saying, "It is snowing- really snowing at MY house!" He was so excited! When Brad got home later that afternoon they bundled up and played.

Waiting on Daddy to come home so he can play in the snow!

I hope that's not yellow snow!!!!

Hoffman Family of 4

Bend It Like Braden!

Braden got a soccer ball and soccer goal for his birthday from his friend Micah. Both Brad and Braden were really excited so they took it out one afternoon for some boy time! Braden was really cute kicking the soccer ball into the goal!

Score!

My Little Picasso

Braden has not been very interested in anything artistic- painting, coloring, etc. for quite some time. For Christmas, Santa brought him several Eric Carle art kits that are based on his books in hopes that it might pique his interest. Well today during nap time Braden decided to get one out and use himself as a canvas! He was very pleased with the results!

Braden's 3rd Birthday Party

If you know me at all then you know that I am HUGE birthday person. I believe that this is your SPECIAL day to celebrate your SPECIAL gift of life. Therefore, I have always tried to make Braden's birthday a celebration! This past summer I started brainstorming ideas for his 3rd birthday and it was a toss up between trains and buses. Braden loves both! Braden helped me finally settle on a school bus theme.

So the dilemma each year is not so much the theme as what are we going to do? Considering that it is a January birthday doesn't always make for the most terrific weather. And this year was NO exception. To go along with the school bus theme I had booked a tumblebus to come for Braden's birthday, but because we actually got snow and ice the Thursday before the tumblebus driver wasn't comfortable driving an hour to our house. So what did I do? I called Brad and cried!!!! And then I picked myself up and decided that we would make the best out of it anyways and it ended up being a great party!

Braden helped me make the treat bags earlier in the week and he was SO excited about all of his friends coming over, but his favorite part was the school bus cake! He absolutely could not take his eyes off his cake when we showed it to him Saturday morning!

There is absolutely no doubt that Braden has my birthday celebration genes! He certainly loves the attention, presents, fun, and CAKE!

Happy 3rd birthday Braden! We love you!

Parker- One Month

Our precious Parker Reed is already one month old. I can't figure out if it seems like he just got here or has been here forever. He is simply adorable. Here are some of his month one milestones:

• Parker has slept for 5 hours stright for the past 2 nights



• He is lifting his head and he seems to be really strong
  


• He is alert for over an hour at a time now



• He loves to lay on the floor and watch Braden



• He turns his head towards Brad when he hears his voice
  


• He is cooing, squealing and smiling

Christmas 2009

Christmas is really a huge blur for me this year (I'm pretty sure it has something to do with being at the hospital for most of the week, delivering a newborn, and sleep deprivation!). However, Braden really enjoyed Christmas this year and that is all that truly matters

Here are a few of the special memories that I can recall from Christmas.

• We were released from the hospital at 2:30 on Christmas Eve and went straight to my parent's house for the Christmas Eve festivities.
  


• DINNER- wedge salad (my favorite), twice baked potatoes, grilled shrimp and shrimp scampi- YUMMMMMMMM!
  


• Braden helping to pass out gifts



• Having Parker with us for his first Christmas
  


• Santa being way too tired to put together all of Braden's gifts
  


• Braden being SUPER excited about his trains and train tables- not even paying attention to the other toys!
  


• Enjoying Christmas breakfast with our boys and our parents

The one tradition that we didn't get around to this year was making Happy Birthday Jesus cupcakes, but we will certainly continue that tradition with the boys in the years to come.

Brothers

All for one and one for all

My brother and my friend

What fun we have

The time we share

Brothers 'til the end.

~Author Unknown